Continuing from last month...
Daniel 11:17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
- he = the fact it says "he shall also ..." denotes whoever is spoken of last in the previous verse is the one being spoken of in this verse, which is Rome led by Julius Caesar.
- set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom = the word "with" = "against" in Hebrew. As arrogant as Caesar was, he went as he pleased against the remaining portion of Alexander's kingdom, that being of course, Egypt.
- thus he shall do = there was an agreement between the king of the north and king of the south.
- and he = Ptolemy XI = king of south
- him = Julius Caesar
- daughter of women = Cleopatra daughter of Ptolemy XI. Ptolemy XI placed his two children, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XII, under guardianship of Rome before his death in 51BC. Cleopatra came on the scene after Alexander's death and was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty during the Hellenistic period. (Hellenistic = the time when Alexander's four generals ruled Greece).
- corrupting her = Caesar corrupted Cleopatra by having her as his mistress. She was also corrupted politically as history proves. After Caesar was assassinated, she tried to join her forces with Marc Antony to defeat Octavian so as to merge Egypt and Rome. They failed and both Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.
- neither be for him = Cleopatra was not "with" Caesar politically as he originally assumed. Her loyalty remained with her father's kingdom of the south. This is confirmed after his assassination in 44 BC (see verse 19) when she and Marc Antony tried to merge Egypt with Rome's growing Empire presently under the rule of Octavian, her stepson, who was later called Augustus Caesar. Cleopatra sought to have her illegitimate son Caesarion (with Julius Caesar) rule instead of Caesar's rightful heir, Octavian. Her and Anthony of course failed in the battle at Actium. It was then they both committed suicide. When she died, the Ptolemaic dynasty ended. Rome took control of the Grecian kingdom.
Daniel 11:18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
- he = Julius Caesar again for emphasis
- the isles = war in other parts of the empire drew Julius Caesar away from Egypt, where he was successful. He invaded all the remaining coastlands of Africa, Syria, and Asia Minor. (isles also = sea coasts)
- a prince for his own behalf = Caesar's military commander named G. Cassius Longinus who was the brother in law to Marcus Junius Brutus. Brutus befriended Caesar and his political desires.
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- reproach = Rome was a republic but after many successful conquests, Caesar was offered the title of dictator. This would be a reproach to the republic and no doubt the reason for his assassination.
- shall cause it to turn upon him = Caesar's insolence/arrogance was turned upon him to the point of assassination. Reason being is, Caesar wanted to remove the Republican form of government to become Dictator. Out of fear, those that were "with him" in this desire also feared death and so turned on Caesar. Hence the famous final statement of Caesar, "et tu Brute", which translated means "and you, Brutus?"
Daniel 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
- he = Julius Caesar
- his own land =Julius Caesar returns to Rome.
- stumble and fall = his political aspirations to rule as dictator cause his fall. He literally "stumbles and falls" after being stabbed 23 times by Cassius, Brutus and others. His assassination happens in the Theatre of Pompey in Rome on the ides of March (March 15), 44 BC.
- not be found = the Grecian dynasty's prophesied end after 268 years of rule in Palestine. Rome takes control and becomes the next king of this part of the northern kingdom. (It's not until 30BC that Rome is able to take control of the territory of the king of the south.) Jerusalem never again regains independence. In fact, they are under Roman rule all the way up to 70AD when Titus destroys the city.
Daniel 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
- stand up in his estate = Octavian, (later called Augustus) the son of Cleopatra and Caesar became Augustus Caesar.
- a raiser of taxes = Octavian (Augustus) did “reform the taxes” in his administration. This was during the time of Christ’s birth. Luke 2:1 actually says, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." (It was this tax that eventually brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.)
- within a few days shall be destroyed = Augustus died rather quickly. He only ruled 13 years. Roman rulers were elected for life. 13 years was not a long time for a Roman ruler. Even his father, Julius Caesar, who was cut short in assassination in 44 BC, ruled 56 years.
- day = a year. See Numbers 14:34 or Ezekiel 4:6
- neither in anger, nor in battle = Augustus died peacefully in his bed while visiting the place of his father's death, on August 19, 14 AD. He died of natural causes; either by disease or old age. It was most assuredly not in battle, nor in anger that he died. He was 77 at death. It has been implied by some sources that his fourth wife, Livia, poisoned him to have her son, Tiberius, rule in his stead.
To be continued…. |